Things haven’t been going well for the Panthers this season. With a 30-29-3 record, their playoff window has all but closed. With less than 20 games remaining, the franchise has been fielding calls about their pending unrestricted free agents for weeks. But a new name has surfaced in trade discussions that has nothing to do with veterans on expiring deals. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the Seattle Kraken are interested in acquiring winger Mackie Samoskevich from the Panthers.
What acquiring Mackie Samskevich means for the Florida Panthers
The 23-year-old forward hasn’t generated the offensive numbers Florida hoped for in his second season, but the organization still views him as a core piece going forward. Florida intends to make Seattle pay a steep price if any deal materializes. The Panthers aren’t eager to move a former first-round pick who is still developing, especially one that coach Paul Maurice has praised repeatedly for his defensive growth and ability to create chances with his speed. Samoskevich has scored just six goals and 21 points in 60 games this season. Moreover, his 4.7 percent shooting percentage tells the story of a player who can’t buy a goal right now. He’s actually generating more chances than his rookie year, firing 2.15 shots per game compared to 1.8 last season. The puck just isn’t going in.That represents a steep drop from his first full NHL campaign, when he notched 15 goals and 31 points in 72 games for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. The underlying numbers suggest the scoring drought is unsustainable rather than a sign of regression.If any team can meet Florida’s asking price, it’s Seattle. The Kraken owns multiple first-round picks over the next two drafts, including two acquired from Tampa Bay in last year’s Bjorkstrand and Gourde deal. They also have five second-round selections and a deep prospect pool to work with.There’s a Michigan connection worth noting, too. Samoskevich and Kraken center Matty Beniers were college teammates at the University of Michigan. Reuniting the two could give Seattle a familiar partnership to build around.Friedman also noted that Shane Wright will not be included in any Samoskevich deal. The Kraken continue to discuss Wright separately in talks centered on acquiring an elite scorer or a younger talent needing a fresh start.Samoskevich becomes a restricted free agent after this season and is arbitration-eligible. With no chance of postseason hockey, Florida remains a potential seller of expiring contracts but is protective of controllable young assets like Samoskevich.
